Sterling Ranch Water Planning Opportunities for Colorado Integrating Water Conservation and Water Quality into Land Use Planning

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1 Sterling Ranch Water Planning Opportunities for Colorado Integrating Water Conservation and Water Quality into Land Use Planning Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute March 2012

2 Land Development In A New Economy Housing needs Generations X/Y entering the market, baby boomers retiring Both Need A Home Different Than The Past Large Non-Traditional Buyer Market Sustainability Is Important if Not Too Expensive Historical underinvestment in infrastructure Replacing Water Infrastructure at.5% per year Douglas County s Transition to Renewable Water Growing economy and private capital will have to solve the problem

3 Douglas County Leads by Example The State should investigate and discuss how to assist local governments to revise their land use regulations to encourage and provide incentives so that new development will be designed to use less water and to conserve water. Interbasin Compact Committee 2010 Report to Governor

4 Overview of Sterling Ranch Project Sterling Ranch, LLC, A Family Business 10 Years in the Making Total Project Approximately 3,450 Acres Key strategic location An infill Site Offering an Outdoor Life Style and Quality of Life Focused on the First and Last Home Markets Zoned May of 2011 for 12,050 homes and 2,000,000 square feet commercial 37% open space with 30 miles of trails

5 Sterling Ranch and Local Communities

6 Our Strategy Create a Water System Dominion Water & Sanitation District County s only wholesale district, Only serving other districts and municipalities Regional commitment and perspective New tap fees fund infrastructure Building a Water System Based Upon Demand Reduction Conservation Multiple Water Sources and Options Waste Water/Stream Nutrient Loading is a Defining Factor More So Each Day

7 Sterling Ranch Water Strategy Water supplies: extremely limited. Demand management: a viable method. Holistic Approach To Demand Reduction: Reduce in-home demand, Manage landscape irrigation use, Use naturally occurring water effectively. CWCB Study provided data and public understanding: Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Management in Northwest Douglas County Download

8 Demand Alternatives Traditional Landscaping Total Irrigation Area = 50.2% of Lot 70 Irrigated Area (Sq-Ft) Impervious 3,470 Turf 2,000 Planting 1,500 Non Irrigated 0 Total Lot 6,970 HOUSE 100 STREET Annual Demand (Acre-Feet) Domestic = 0.30 Irrigation = 0.35 Total = 0.65

9 Demand Alternatives Moderate Conservation Landscaping Total Irrigation Area = 35.8% of Lot 70 Irrigated Area (Sq-Ft) Impervious 3,470 Turf 1,500 Planting 1,000 HOUSE 100 Non Irrigated 1,000 Total Lot 6,970 STREET Annual Demand (Acre-Feet) Domestic = 0.30 Irrigation = 0.16 Total = 0.46

10 Demand Alternatives Water Wise Landscaping Total Irrigation Area = 21.5% of Lot 70 Irrigated Area (Sq-Ft) Impervious 3,470 Turf 1,000 HOUSE 100 Planting 500 Non Irrigated 2,000 Total Lot 6,970 STREET Annual Demand (Acre-Feet) Domestic = 0.30 Irrigation = 0.08 Total = 0.38

11 Outdoor Water Conservation Influencing Factors Amount of Irrigated Area Landscape Materials Irrigation System Design & Maintenance One Single Family Residential Equivalent (SFE) Landscaping Alternative Irrigation Demand (acre-feet) (gallons/ sq-ft) Savings from Traditional (%) Traditional Moderate Conservation % Water Wise % Water Mgmt

12 Rainwater Harvesting Colorado s FIRST Approved Pilot Project Rainwater: Reliable supply of water, Possible without injury to senior rights, Major water quality benefits reduced nutrient loading Used in Colorado for a thousand years, Became illegal through series of cases. New law (HB ): Passed without opposition, Allows for 10 test projects across Colorado, Only Historic return flows owed to the river. SB for exempt wells

13 Collection Systems Rain Barrels Individual Cisterns Community Cisterns Regional Capture Systems All Reduce Storm Water Impact. Small Scale Rain Barrel source: RainBarrelSource.com Construction of an Underground Structural Storage Tank in Rancho Viejo, New Mexico Alternative to Cisterns Regional Collection 13

14 How Much Actually Returns to the River? Total Precipitation = Runoff + Native Vegetation ET + Winter Sublimation + Deep Percolation + Change in Soil Moisture ET/Sublimation = 97% 85% (wet) to 100% (dry) Surface Water Runoff = 2% 0% (dry) to 12% (wet) Soil Moisture Ground Water = 1% Deep Percolation 0% (dry) to 3% (wet) 14

15 Natural Pre-Development Conditions

16 Rainwater Harvesting Potential One Single Family Residential Equivalent (SFE) Landscaping Alternative Supply from RWH Savings From Traditional Traditional 0% --- Traditional w/ Cisterns 12% 12% Moderate Conservation w/ Cisterns 26% 65% Water Wise w/ Cisterns 49% 88%

17 Pilot Project Progress

18 Experimental Demo Site Demand Management : plantings & irrigation systems Rainwater Capture allowed under SB-80

19 Land Use and Water Conservation Traffic planning, Recreation & open spaces, Storm water mgmt & low impact development, Clustering of homes with orientation on common areas, Anticipated leisure activities.

20 Waterwise New Homes Land Use Commitments Indoor Fixtures & Appliances Water Budgets & Inclining Block Rates Irrigation System Regulations Landscape Plan Approvals Sample Plans for Water Budgets Denver Botanic Gardens teaming Inspections Pre-purchase Pre-sale Dual Metering

21 Residential Water Use Water Use (Gal/Day/Person) Traditional Pre-Retrofit Home With Indoor Retrofit outdoor indoor Sterling Ranch Home (0.54 AFY) (0.48 AFY) (0.22 AFY)

22 Integrating Water Conservation & Land Use Planning Douglas County approval of Sterling Ranch: Water Conservation Integrated Into The Land Plan Encourages Wise Water Use With Incentives. Incentivizes water conservation Contemplates Lower Bills, Higher Resale Values Includes economically viable alternatives to common historical practices.

23 Example of Customer Benefits Demand Standard (ac-ft per residence): Gallons Per Year Per Home 244, ,000 93,000 Annual Cost per Home (at $10 per 1,000 gallons/year) $2,440 $1,300 $932 Monthly Cost per Home $203 $108 $78

24 Strategically Developing Real Estate Time required for entitlement is extensive Almost 10 Years Since We Began 5 Years of Hearings Governmental timing is unpredictable, impacts are tremendous Economics of land development are driven by externalities Water availability and water quality are the most important and potentially limiting factors in the West s future. Utilities must be addressed from a new paradigm to maintain competitive market and high quality of Life

25 HAROLD SMETHILLS, MANAGING DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER STERLING RANCH, LLC (303) Discussion & Observations